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it was working to promote exports and received many Four Year Plan
projects. I believe that I recall that Professor Krauch said to me once; "What
is your impression? How is it in the administration?" In reply, I recorded
here, "There is a great deal of confusion." The entire letter is very frank
criticism. I say here that I missed cooperation between the Reich Office for
Economic Development and the many Wehrmacht agencies. I also gave some examples
which are interesting in other respects. I say, for instance, that in the
middle of 1938, one person wants to stock up on diglycol, but the Army is
closing down diglycol plants. Apparently there is no armament program if that
is the case. I also say, referring to Schkopau, one party is building, but the
other party won't give any money. After all, it is a diglycol plant. In
referring to Trostberg, I say: "Isn't it senseless to give a company (that is,
Organid G.m.b.H.,) an assignment to build poison gas facilities, while I.G.
Farben, which does not do that but produces only a preliminary product, is not
doing anything yet?" I also say: "This competition for quotas is impossible.
Couldn't you in Berlin get some order here?" This is criticism which I am
exercising and which Professor Krauch probably wanted from some one working
both for export, peacetime economy, and also for the armament program.
Q. Mr. Ambros, I am interested, first of all, in this: you do not deny
that you drafted this letter?
A. No, I think it is much too nice.
Q. Mr. Ambros, whether you think it is nice or not is beside the point.
I think you have had enough time to explain it now, and this is what I want to
ask you:
In what sense did you mean this letter — as an official
adviser of someone in the government or some person, perhaps; or is this letter
the expression of your private opinion?
A. I was never an official in
any government agency. This is the expression of an opinion of a private
businessman who is asked by an official agency "What do you think; what is the
situation?" Perhaps I dictated this letter as one does to get clarity in one's
own mind. I only know now — and Mr. Krauch confirms this — that it
was never sent out. Probably it was found among the drafts of my letters.
Q. Now Mr. Ambros, did you realize at the time, or do you believe at
all, that this draft of yours had any influence anywhere — let us say, on
the Karinhall Plan?
A. No, it could not have had any influence because,
first of all, the Karinhall Plan was nothing new. The Karinhall Plan, as has
been shown here, was only a new formulation of existing plans which had partly
been drawn up by the OKH in connection with |
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